Tuesday 13 October 2026
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Iraqi activist films alleged harassers in Baghdad, faces death threats for her campaign

Sarah Jassim says the camera is a weapon for women seeking evidence and justice

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sarah Jassim, an Iraqi women's rights activist, is documenting sexual harassment in Baghdad by publishing videos of alleged offenders on Instagram, telling the BBC the footage gives women evidence if they decide to sue and a way to shame their harassers. Her work has come at a heavy personal cost, including death threats and isolation, according to the BBC.

The videos, posted on Jassim's Instagram page on behalf of women complaining of sexual abuse and harassment by Iraqi men and boys, include a scene recorded on a busy Baghdad street in which a woman screams at a driver, accusing him of exposing himself and making obscene comments as she walked by. The camera captures the man resisting her attempts to open the car door as she confronts him.

"Your camera is your weapon," Jassim told the BBC. "It's a way to document evidence in case a woman decides to sue her harasser, or at least it is a means to shame him."

Jassim said one of the videos she posted led to the arrest of an alleged perpetrator, a policeman accused of harassing schoolgirls.

The BBC report, by Sally Nabil reporting from Baghdad, carries a warning that it contains details of sexual violence, and its headline frames the cost of Jassim's activism as death threats and isolation.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Jassim's Instagram page gives women in Baghdad a public channel to report harassment at a time when formal complaints can be difficult or dangerous to pursue.
  • The reported arrest of a policeman shows the videos can trigger official action, not just online attention.
  • The death threats and isolation described in the BBC report illustrate the personal toll on activists in Iraq.

Background

Iraq has a documented problem of sexual harassment and violence against women, and activists have long called for stronger legal protections and enforcement. Women who speak out publicly often face social pressure and the threat of reprisals, a pattern seen across the region. Jassim's method of filming and publishing alleged offences draws on a wider recent wave of women using social media to expose harassment, a tactic that is both praised for its directness and criticised for bypassing established legal process.

Key Perspectives

Sarah Jassim and the women who send her videos: Public exposure is a protective tool, providing evidence that could support legal action and deterring offenders who fear being identified. Iraqi authorities: The arrest of a police officer accused of harassing schoolgirls suggests that at least some video evidence is being taken seriously by law enforcement. Critics and skeptics: Publishing footage of alleged offenders before any judicial finding raises concerns about the presumption of innocence, personal privacy, and the risks of vigilante-style justice, while retaliation against activists remains a live danger.

What to Watch

  • Whether further arrests follow from Jassim's published footage.
  • How Iraqi authorities respond to reports of death threats against her.
  • Whether the campaign shifts public and political debate on women's safety ahead of any legal or policy change.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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